Academic Community Must Be Grounded and Create Real Impact, Says West Java Governor

Bandung – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has called on the Korps Alumni Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam (KAHMI) of West Java to strengthen the role of academics so that they do not stop at the realm of thought, but are able to produce works and create a real impact for society. This message was delivered by Dedi Mulyadi while serving as the keynote speaker at the official opening of the VII KAHMI West Java Regional Conference (Muswil) at the Grand Asrili Hotel Convention, Bandung, on Friday evening. According to Dedi Mulyadi, the nation’s problems cannot be resolved solely through regime change or regulatory amendments. Indonesia requires thinking that can be translated into concrete action and arises from an awareness of the roots of Nusantara culture. KDM, as he is familiarly known, assessed that there is currently a gap between academic thought and the reality of people’s lives. He noted that various issues in urban environments located near educational centres serve as an illustration that knowledge has not been fully translated into solutions. Dedi Mulyadi explained that the ancestors of the Nusantara did not treat knowledge merely as a collection of books or writings, but rather manifested it in the form of awareness and tangible works. Therefore, he stated that the measure of knowledge’s success is not solely how many academic degrees one has attained, but the extent to which that knowledge provides benefits for public life. ‘Academics in our country are often normatively administrative, aimed at fulfilling degree requirements, without honesty and justice, and without upholding the values of truth,’ he said. KDM then emphasised the importance of academics becoming creators or innovators. According to him, an intellectual is not sufficient merely possessing knowledge, but must also be able to produce something whose benefits can be felt by the community. ‘If one is a creator, then something must be created. One can create songs, architectural works, education systems, application systems, energy systems,’ he stated. In this context, the figure affectionately known as ‘Bapak Aing’ encouraged KAHMI to translate grand ideas and Islamic values into simple language that is easily understood by the public. ‘All that celestial language must be explained in earthly language,’ he said. The West Java Governor also cited the wayang character Semar as an example, describing the importance of a leader’s presence among the people. Despite his high status, Semar chooses to be present as a commoner and a leader at the grassroots level in order to bring about direct change.